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The Bessie Rischbieth Collection Bessie
Rischbieth 1920 In 1953 the Melbourne writer Nettie Palmer sent Harold White, Head Librarian, a letter introducing him to the feminist Bessie Rischbieth, who was interested in depositing in the Library her collection relating to the history of the English suffragette movement. White swiftly realised the significance of Rischbieth’s own personal papers. It wasn’t until after Rischbieth’s death in 1967, however, that the Library finally secured her papers. Now held in the Manuscript Collection, they include Rischbieth’s family and personal correspondence (1911–1959), travel diaries, articles and broadcasts. The collection also includes documents relating to the English Suffragette movement and Australian women’s suffrage, as well as papers concerning Rischbieth’s involvement in various women’s organisations. Other correspondence, papers and reports document Rischbieth’s appointment as Australian Delegate to the League of Nations, and the formation of the United Nations. At a time before social history was considered a legitimate study, the acquisition of Rischbieth’s papers documents Harold White’s foresight to which both the Library and subsequent generations of social historians are deeply indebted. |